Bar Harbor's Beloved Shore Path Quietly Reopens
Still a little work to be done
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Andy’s Home Improvement Inc.
BAR HARBOR—The barricades and signs are down and 15 months after last January’s devastating storms, Bar Harbor’s beloved Shore Path has quietly reopened for public use. While not yet totally complete, the project is far enough along that those who have been anxiously awaiting the opportunity to walk their dog or take a contemplative stroll along the ocean can safely do so.
Stewards of the Shore Path, the Bar Harbor Village Improvement Association’s (VIA) members, have worked tirelessly to complete this project. There is still some work to do. According to the VIA’s Vice President Andrew Shea, there are a couple hundred feet of the path near the Hancock Street entrance that still needs top surface gravel applied. Shea said that Harold MacQuinn “is expecting to do it within the next 3-4 weeks weather permitting.” There are also temporary access roads to be removed and fences to be repaired or replaced.
The town also has a set of stairs at Grant Park, that lead from the park to the shore, that have not yet been repaired. This repair is on town-owned property and therefore not in the purview of the VIA.
While to some, it may have seemed like it took forever to make the necessary repairs and improvements, it was an enormous task. Prior to anything being fixed, there was planning, legal work and negotiations with private landowners, and the figuring out of logistical challenges for work that would normally be done by machines too big to access the path.
Then it all had to be paid for. The VIA started a GoFundMe that has raised over $61,000 with an additional $330,000 donated directly to the VIA. The VIA also contributed $300,000 itself. Many local businesses like Window Panes, Witham Family Hotels, and First National Bank have held Shore Path specific fundraisers and/or donated money directly. It has been a community effort that involved not just local fans of the Shore Path but also those from away who fell in love with the path’s uniqueness and beauty.
While the final costs are not in, and most likely won’t be for a while since invoices still need to be submitted and paid, the total cost of the repairs will most likely top $2 million. David Witham of Witham Family Hotels and VIA board member said that he was comfortable saying that the repair of the Shore Path and landscaping improvements that are on Bar Harbor Inn property exceeded $1 million alone.
The VIA is still accepting donations on the GoFundMe and its website.
VIA president Dickie Cough said that the VIA is “in the process of setting up a grand reopening for the public and have chosen the 11th of June for that.” More details of this official grand reopening event will be forthcoming, Cough said.
In the meantime, the public is welcome to utilize the Shore Path and enjoy it as it has always been enjoyed. The VIA would like to ask that users of the Shore Path, as always, please respect the private property of those landowners who are so gracious as to allow the public to enjoy the stretches, behind the Bar Harbor Inn and from the south side of Grant Park to Wayman Lane, that are privately owned.
Due to the damaged and missing fences that normally border some of the Shore Path and the temporary access roads that are still in place, not trespassing on private property will require more diligence from the public than normal but will be greatly appreciated.
BEFORE AND AFTER
All photos: Shaun Farrar/Bar Harbor Story
This article was corrected to show a more accurate path of donations for the Shore Path repair.
LINKS TO LEARN MORE
Follow us on Facebook. And as a reminder, you can easily view all our past stories and press releases here.
If you’d like to donate to help support us, you can, but no pressure! Just click here (about how you can give) or here (a direct link), which is the same as the button below.
If you’d like to sponsor the Bar Harbor Story, you can! Learn more here.